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5 shets sheet 1..

I. HHN. v Ru ning-HG Patented m I20, 1875.

WITN SSES V 5Sheets--Sheet3., I. HAHN.

Rolling-ill. 10.165819. Patentedluly20,18l75 iesnrrcs nAn-s, or rr'rrsscnn,rnnivsrnvssm.

ie-eve er lN net-ire this.

4 Specification forming 'pnrt of Letters Patent No. hfidfi d9, dated July 20, 1875; application filled y I February 21, not.

To all whom it may concern:

- Be it known that LlGNA'rrUs HAHN, of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Rolling-Mills; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description thereof, reference .being bad to the accompanying drawing torminga part of this specification, in which- Figure l is an end view of a machine embodying my invention, partly in dotted lines.

Fig. 2 is a detached view of rolls and hydraulic struts. Fig.3 is a front View of rolls, housing,

they occur.

7 My invention relates to the construction and operation of rolling-mills, more especially plate-mills; and it consists, first, in the 00111" bin-ation of three small work-rolls with one large roll to the outside of, and in line with,

each of the outer work-rolls, the central roll being of an equal or less diameter than its next adjoining ones; second, in combining with the outer brace-rolls three intermediate work-rolls of less diameter, one or more of the intermediate rolls being driven by 'belting from the main rolls, so as to obtain uniform circumferential speed of the rolls; third, in an arrangement of the belting and a series of fixed and movable pulleys, over which the belting passes, wherebythe belting will be kept tight, and will press the intermediate rolls against the circumference of the next outer roll, and the use of counter-weights to take up the slack of the belting is avoided fourth, applying thebeltingaround the whole circumference of pulley of intermediate roll, whereby the movement of the pulley is made to take, up theslaek of the belting, and an increased contact between pulley and drivingbelt is obtained; fifth, in the combination ot a t'eedtable and three or more rolls, adjust-able in relation to one another and to the table by means of hydraulicpower for regulating the pass; sixth, in combining, with an adjustable roll, a hydraulic piston and cylindenand a series of pipes for admitting fluid to both sides 'ot' the piston, so that the roll may be raised or lowered and held stationary'by hydraulic power; seventh, in cornbining, with the outer roll of a series, one or more trusses secured to or traveling with the roll, so as to support and brace the roll at all times; eighth, in combining a check-valve with the line of pipes'leading to that side of the pistons against which the pressure is coming at the time of rolling thebloom or pile, whereby the operating of a. single valve for raising or lowering the piston operates the escape 'or waste in the opposite side of the piston-head; ninth, in

combining, with the several pistons which 7 operate the rolls, four pairs of inlet and outlet valves, all mounted in a common axial line, each pair secured to a common shaft and independent of the others, the outlet-valves of each two pairs communicating with a common outlet-pipe, and the inlet-valves of the two intermediate pairs communicating with a' common inlet-pipe, whereby a single workman can operate the entire series of valves and raise and lower the rolls.

' Iwill now proceed to describe my invention,

so that others skillediu-tbc art may apply the same:

The invention is illustrated upon a series of five high rolls; but the essential condition of the first combination is an independently-adjustable intermediate roll and outer rolls, one outer roll or one set of said outer rolls being likewise adjustable. 1

In the drawing, A B represent fixed'lables, such as are commonly employed with this class of devices. n represents the top roll, journaled'in the boxes or riders 9, said boxes preferably t'orn'ied with upper and lower sections, which" may be separated by liners, that can be changed'to take up thewear of the rolls The lower sections of boxes or riders g are slotted or recessed to receive the neclr of intermediate roll I), which is held no position up against. the outer roll by straps f, the

zends of which pass through lugs upon the upper sect-ion of the boxes, whereby any wear of the journals or rolls may be readily corrected. The boxes g are secured to stems h of pistons i, which work in cylinders m secured to or formed by the cross-pieces n of the housings. O is the independent'movable intermediate roll, journaled in boxes or riders p, which boxes may be madejn sections, as above specified,and are secured to pistons r 1". Instead of the'pistons and cylinders specified, the intermediate movable roll may vbe operated 1 by counter-balances from below acting on the rider, if preferred. d and. e are the lower v intermediate, and outer rolls, provided with theboxes or riders q and pistons and rods h g 5, corresponding in detail with the upper pairs of rolls, excepting that the slings or .straps f are omitted, as not necessary from thepositiouof roll d, the upper section of boxesq being slotted for the necks of the intermediate roll, which rests upon the outer roll 0. The rolls are mounted in suitable-housings,

which slide upon the bed-plate, as shown in Letters Patent No. 153,239; and wherevery long rolls are employed,(though not confined to that number,) yet I prefer to construct the "housiugs'of six separate pieces, as shown in the drawingfour jamb pieces, 0 0 0 0, and two cross-pieces, one at the top, n, and another at the bottom, 7i th8' several parts being cast and planed, the jambs o 0 o o with lugs. and

recesses as seen at o 0, Fig. 1, whereby the bolts and rods which secure the parts are in a great degree relieved from undue strain.

By this means large housings can be readily cast and built up,the cross-pieces n n being tied by long wrought-iron or steel rods applied close to the line of strain where they are needed, and the jambs and cross-pieces may be further strengthened and secured by wrought-iron or steel rods, bolts, &c.'

For raising, lowering, and adjusting the rolls, I provide the housings, either by bolting to the cross-pieces or by boring out the latter itself, with cylinders, provided with the usual pistons 11 z" r, (the piston r being a simple rod, the end thereof answering as a pistou-head,) the rods of which are secured firmly to the boxes or riders of the several rolls.

Water, steam, or other fluid may be admittcd to'the cylinders m on both sides of the piston 43 by means of pipes l k, and to the under sides of the pistons c" r by means of the pipes l k, the flow of the fluid and its direction in the pipes being governed by a series of valves (clearly shown in Fig. 4) compactly arranged in a common axis, and by valves on the respective pipes. n i

It will be seen by reference to Figs. 4 an 14 that: there are three pipes, D, K, and N, leading from the accumulator, and communicatingthrough the valve-box with the pipes Us l k", and two wastepipes, E and L, which likewise communicate with pipes l. k l k, all

of which are controlled byvalves z, 2 H, and J, partof said valves operated by the hollow stems to w, and part by solid stems FF. The pipes [and k are connected .by a

double check-valve, w, and branch pipe M, ar-

ranged on the pipes at a point near. the inletvalves, by which means the admission of water to the under side of the upper piston causes an equal amount to be displaced above.

It will now be proper to'describe the manner of operating the-rolls by means of the .devices already described, special reference thereforbeing made to Figs. 1,2, and 4. Fig.1

to tr, thereby;ope'rating the two valves 2 and 2, which are cast in one piece with the hollow stem 3 closing. 2 and opening z, as seen in Fig. 4, therebyshutting ofl' communication with waste-pipe E, and opening communication with pipe D, leading from the accumulator. Valve 8 is then opened, Fig. 1, which admits the fluid to the under side of piston 4 and forces up rider g of the lower rolls; VVh'en the lower rolls d e'liavearrived at the position shown in Fig. 2, which can be determined by proper graduations or marks on the housings or other place off the rolls, the attenda1.t shuts valve 8, confining'the fluid between .9 and piston-i and the rolls d and 0 will be in permanent position, resting on the fluid. T-his accomplished, the attendant turns solid valvestem F (which passes through. hollow stem :0)

outward by means of crank G, secured to the outer end of F, thereby operating valves H and J, closing H, and cutting off communication with waste-pipe E and opening J, establishing-communication by means of pipe K between the accumulator and pipel, which leads to the under side of pistons r. Valve t is then opened, admitting the fluid through I, Fig. 1, to the under side of pistons r, lifting rider 1) and intermediate roll 0, until the lowest point of the circumference of c is as much above the upper surface of roll (1 as the -desired reduction for the next pass amounts to, which point may also be determined by the marks or graduations above referred to. The valves t and J are then closed. The upper rolls have been previously lifted by turning outward solid valve-stem F, with its valves z and 2, closing waste-pipe L, and opening communication, by means of pipe K, between the accumulator and the under side of piston i, the valve u also being opened, and the I valves z and z operated by hollow stem a2, so as to open ivaste pipc L and close pipe N, leading to the accumulator. The fluid passing through pipe it enters branch pipe M, and forces up double check-valves, allowing the fluid above piston 23 to escape through pipes l ;M and waste-pipe L in the same ratio as fluid closed, and the'several rolls occupy the position shown in Fig. 2, which is the position they occupy on the second or return pass from B to A, the bloom now passing between the rolls 0 d. The pass from B to A having been accomplished, intermediate roll 0 is lowered down on roll (I, and the exit-valves of pipes Z and k are opened to allow the escape of fluid from beneath pistons r and i, as the rolls sink by their own weight, until the top of roll 0 is again on the level of table C, when the exit-valves of pipes Z and lo are closed. Simultaneously the exit-valve of pipe k, leading to the under side of piston '23, is opened, allowing the rolls a I) to descend the required dis.- tance, when the valve of pipe k is closed, and fluid admitted by pipe l to the cylinder'above piston t, the exit of l closed, and the rolls are again in the position shown in 'Fig. 1, ready for the pass from A to B.

I will now proceed to describe the manner of driving the difierent rolls, referring more especially to Figs. 6, 7 and 8, as illustrating the,

arrangement of the belting whereby the tension is preserved, while at the same time the adjustability of the rolls is not interfered with,

and this without the use of counter-weights for taking up slack. S, Fig. 3, is a pinion coupled to the fly-wheel shaft, gearing into pinion T, coupled to bottom roll e by breakingspindle U, thus driving the lower outer roll 0 direct. It is evident that the intermediate rolls may, if preferred, be driven direct by this or similar gearing, as illustrated in Fig. 3, where T and U gear with roll 0'. On the end of roll e,-Fig.6, is pulley V, driving by a belt pulleys V V V- V*, 'v" beingon the neck oflowerintermediate roll d, V V and V back 1301', thus driving shafts W, W W and W below and above on the housings, as intermediate roll d. Of this combination, four of the pulleys, V V, V, and V are stationary, while the pulleys V and V move with the rolls, as do also the pulleys V? and V which are secured to the box or rider of rolls d and c, and it will thus be seen that any slack arising from the movement of the rolls in one direction must be taken up by the increase in the distance between the fixed and movable points on the opposite side. ()n shafts W W, Figs. 1, 3. and 7 are pulleys as .15, cfinnected by belting with pulleys m m on shafts W W a 41:9 on rolls a b, and .Z'G and .r" loose on shafts y y. Thus the powerfroln the lower driven roll 0 is communicated, by the belting which drives roll d, to the shafts W W, and thence transmitted, through pulleys .r .v", to upper rolls a. b. This second series of pulleys and belting are identical in arrangement and operation with that before described. The independently-ad justable intermediate roll 0 is driven as iollows: On the lower shaft l/V, Fig. 8, is a pulley, 2", connecting by belting with pulley z, loose on pin z, on neck of intermediate roll 0; z, loose on pin 3f, 2 on waste 3 fixed and movable pulleys is preserved, and it is obvious that whatever belting is loosened by the upward or downward movement of the.

rolls is immediately taken up on theiside of the rolls opposite to the direction of travel.

For the purpose of tightening the belts, the

.lowcr shafts W and W are hung in movable bearings, and operated by screws U miterwheels 0, shafts p, worm-wheels n worms M and hand-wheels M so that theweight of the lower shafts and pulleys assists in tightening the belts, while by this method of driving the outer intermediate rolls are always kept tight againstthe circumference of the large rolls next adjoining.

As one of the main objects of the present invention is to use rolls of greater lengths than have heretofore been employed, and as, while it is practicable to obtain the small intermediate rollsof the required length, it is not at present everywhere practicable to obtain the larger or outer .rolls of suflicient length, I shall now describe sectional rollsa and e, the construction of which is shown in dotted lines, Fig. 3, and enlarged in Figs. 12 and 13 of the drawing, and which I propose to use with the intermediate rolls. Said rolls are built up of two or more independent parts, and then properly secured -togetheras, for instance, as illustrated iii lower roll 0, Figs. 3 and 12, where B is a central shaft formed in one piece, and provided with three shoulders, B

B B turned thereon, and having three separate rings, M M M shrunk on shaft B, whose shoulders also act additionally to prevent the rings from moving laterally. In the upper roll a, Figs. 3 and 13, the three separate pieces U 2 U U are fitthd together by boring or casting the inner ends of U and U to match projections U formed on the middle section U, the sections being secured together by threads on 1B, or by central rods or shafts U extending the whole length of the parts.

For either of the rolls a 0 described, a roll made of longitudinal staves, bolted to a central shaft and coulined by shrinking bands thereon, may be substituted.

In order that the'diameter of central shafts of sectional outer rolls may be reduced, said shal't may be driven from both sides, as shown (Fig. 3) in the case of central intermediate roll 0, when, of course, each half length of the shaft transmits but half of the power, and can,

therefore, be made 'of x the full diameter of shaft required when the roll is driven from one side only: therefore, if in the latter case the shatt is se\ unteen inches, then in the former it would be 12 x V, 17 x g2;- 13.6, or,say, a shaft of fourteen inches diameter, which will resist all the torsional strain going through this shaft or roll. The several parts of the sectional rolls may be made of castiron, wrought-iron, or steel, to suit circumstances. termediate or small rolls 1) a d, though these latter are preferabl y made in one piece, of castiron if short, or wrought-iron and'steel if long, the latter metals being less liable to break, and offering greater resistance to torsional strain than cast-iron.

The trusses employed with the outer rolls, and which will be hereinafter described, should support the sectional outer rolls at the junction of the sections.

I In order to show the advantages to be gained from my five-high mill, Figs. 9, 10, and 11 have been added to the drawings, in which Fig. 9 shows the ordinary two-high mill; Fig. 10, a three-high mill, having a small intermediate roll; and Fig. 11, my tire-high mill, in which the small intermediate rolls are placed between larger rolls above and below. In all the tignres pile 2 is shown of the same size and reduction given, and is also the same for every arrangement of rolls. i

The surface of contact between pile and rolls (all the large and all the small rolls considered to be of likediameters, respectively) divided into a certain number-say, for instance, seven equal divisionsand admitting these divisions to represent inches, there are as follows: in Fig. 9, sefyen inches of contact of upper roll; in Fig. 9,"seven inches of contact of lower roll total, fourteen inches of contact on both sides. In Fig. 10, seven inches of contact between pile and outer roll; in Fig. 10, six inches of contact between pile and intermediate roll;

total, 'thirtcen inches of contact on both rolls. in Fig. 11, six inches of contact between pile and central roll; in Fig. 11, six inches of contact between pile and upper intermediate roll;

total, twelve inches ot'contaet between both Now, suppose all rolls to be of equal lengths, say nine feet, and sheets of same width being rolled, as it takes live thousand pounds press I 3,240,000; that is to say, we require 3,780,000

pounds pressure at the circumierence of rolls in Fig. i) 3,510,000 pounds pressure at circumference of rolls in Fig. 10; and 3,240,000 pounds pressure in Fig. ll, clearly showing that fifteen per cent. less power is requircdin my five-high mill than in the ordinary two high mills, and

eight per cent. less power thanin three-high rolls with small intermediate rolls, even supposing that all three of my intermediate rolls should be of like diameters with those-in Fig. 10. But, owing to the mode of attaching the two outer intermediate rolls, b and d, to the large rolls a and e, 1 need not make them as large as in. Fig. 10, and therefore gain additionall y in power, or else, on applying the same The same may be said. ofthe inamount of.power, can use a roll so much longer,

here, for instance, a roll nine feet long be thelirnit in Figs. 9 and 10, my arrangement will permit neto use rolls of same diameters, ten feet long; but, as i never have less than two rolls below or above, the pile or bloom while rolling-it, the strength of theserolls must j be considered from adifferent standpoint. 1

In Fig. 10 there is always on one side ,-:either top or bottom, of the pilev a single roll which has to take up the strain; consequently the ordinary three-high mill is no better than the. two-high mill, as regards capacity of the rolls toresist breaking-strain.

Rolls are to be considered as beams of equal strength in all directions; and as, in ordinary beams, the greater the load for a certain span the higher must be the beam or beams, so in the case of rolls (or rotating beams) the greater their length the greater must be their height, (respective diameters but in the latter, as well as in the former, the same laws cxis't-Jirst, the capacity of beams carrying a load uniformly distributed over the wholespan increases to-thesquare of its height; and, sec

ondly, the capacity of beams to carry a load creases in inverse ratio to such span. other words, a beam of double the height carries four times as much, and a beam of a given.

height will carry but half the load if the span is doubled.

Applying these rules to rolls, there is to be considered that the power these rolls have to resist increases in the same proportion as the width of sheets or plates to be rolled, so that a sheet ten feet wide absorbs twice as much power as one of but fivefeet width.

Now,'suppose the outer rolls to be thirtytwo inches in diameter, and the three intermediate rolls sixteen inches each, as before stated, without considering the resistance of the outer intermediate rolls, they rolls may be made ten feet long, where others userolls nine feet in length; but as these outer intermediate rolls always bear tight against theiruext adjoining larger rolls, the strength of-the latter is increased by the square of the thus enlarged height-i. 0., 32-inch beam +16-ineli beam: I

and riveted on one longitudinal line only, or

else bent and welded,,finishing, for example,

a boiler, &c.,, with no rivctiiigsvhatsoever,c);-

cept for putting on thc'hcads;

3 rolls.

It is now necessary to specify brietlythe' 'manner of applying the trusses to the large Upon the lower roll a, Figs 2251a 3, the simple form of .truss is employed, secured to V the roll, or some object traveling with the roll:-

as, for instance, the ridcrswhile in the upper roll the truss is connected with pistons, which follow the roll. I provide for the upper roll a cap or clutches, I), having friction-rollers d 'bearii1g against, the face of the oll, said caps or clutches being securedto piston-rods I), which terminate in pistons 2' i working in cylinders secured tothe upper cross-piece of the housings. The different pipelines Ia and l are continued to connect with the cylinders both above and below the pistons 27 i inthe case of the cylinders it of the housings proper, and the pistons i i are operated in the manner specified for i '5 For the lower roll, bed-pieces D having friction-rollers d bearing against the face of the lower roll, are provided, and these bed-pieces may be operated' by extending pipes l and k to cylinders secured to the bed, or by other suitable devices; but however operated, 'snflicient pro-' vision should be made, by bracing the bed piece or its rod D to 'prevent lateral displace ment. y v

Where the metal .to be rolled is not so heavy but that it can be readily handled and lifted, Imake either rolls d a with stationary riders, or make 'roll a permanent. In the'former case roll c moves up and down, as do also rolls a b. .In the latter instance a -b and d a move in pairs to and from central roll a, so that if, for

example, the bar should go through between rolls b and c, then rolls (1 and e must'rest tight against the circumference of c to preve 'it it from breaking; and if the bar is passing between rolls 0 and 01, then" rolls a b must rest tight against the circumference of c, and this for the reason that roll 0 is made only sufficiently strong in diameter to resist the tor sional strain-to which it is exposed whileworkis being dgne.

- In cases where but two intermediate rolls are employed one pass'v'vill be between both intermediate rolls, while the return. pass occurs between one of the intermediate rolls and its next adjoining outer roll or rolls; and in such an arrangement of rolls, es-w'ell as in twohigh rolls, where a single roll is subjected to great strain, the ,rolls may be trussed with good efl'ect, Where only two intermediate .rolls are employed the rolls b and d maybe enslirectby suitable belting or gearing.

dhe mechanism herein specified vmay-be varied to suit circumstances of existing machinery and to utilize thesame. Properly-proportioned gearing may be applied to obtain equal circumferential speed of outer and intermediate rolls. Keys, screws,or steam pressure maybe-employed for braci'ngthe rolls;

all of whichis within tliepresent knowledge of the killed mechanic, and may be ctlone ferent length.

.vithout departing from the spirit my invention.

.-Among the inany'advantages of my er-- rangement of rolls may he cited one incident to two-high reversing-rolls, 'i. 6., avoiding the necessity of lifting the piece to be rolled, and

another incident to three-high rolls, viz}, working both ways withontreversing the direction of the rolls, both of said advantages being deriv'cd from such means as are always reg. quired for regulating the distance betweeni rolls for each succeeding pass of the pileor- "bloom, or for keeping the rolls at such predetermined distance while the bar is passing through the rolls. By making very long rolls in sections and putting them together or-building them up, as

shown on roll a, Fig. 13, I am enabled to remove or' take out the mldtlidSBOl-lOll, inserting .a short idler in place thereof, and to.m'ov.e up

the housings, so as to reduce the size of the mill at such times as the largestsiz-e plates, are not being rolled, thus avoiding the necessity of investing capital in extra rolls of dif- I am aware that threeir'ltermcdiate workrolls have been used in combinatiorwith outer brace-rolls, one of the intermediate rolls being of greaterdiameter than the'other two, and this I do not claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire tosecure byLetters'Patcut, is-- I 1. In mills for rollin metals, the combine tion of three small \ro'r -rolIs, b, 0, and d, with .one large roll, to the outside of and in line with each of theouter intermediate rolls 1) d,

the central roll a being of equal or less diameter than its next adjoining ones b d, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In combination with the outer brace- .rolls, three intermediate work-rolls of less diameter, one or more of the intermediate rolls-being driven by belting, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. In combination with two rolls which move together, and the belting for driving the same, four or more fixed pulleys, and two or more pulleys moving with the rolls, substan- V tially as and for the purpose specified.'

4. In combination with a pulleysecured to the shaft of a driven roll, four or more tired pulleys and the belt for driving the roll, the

belt bein a pliw to the entire circumference of the p is; oi the drivenroll, substantially as and for the purpose specified. 5. The combination of the adjustable rolls 7 b, c, and d, having suitable riders, with pistons working'in cylinders formed in or secured to the housings, for raising and lowering the rolls, substantially as specified.

6.- The combination of a fixed feed-table and three or more rolls, adjustable in relation to one another and to the table, substaultially as and for the purpose specified.

' 7, In combination with an adjustable roll,

a hydraulic piston and cylinder, and a series of common shaft, and independent of the others pipes for admitting fluid to both sides of the I the outlet-val\-'s of each two pairs communipiston, so that the roll may he raised and low ered and held statit'niary by hydraulic power, substantially as and for the purpose specified. 8. In combination with the outer rolls d e, the supports D D, operated by pistons working in cylinders, substantially as specified.

9. In combination'with the fixed table, three or more rolls, 1) c d, andthe-mecbanism for raising and lowering the rolls, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

If The combination, substantially as herein described, with the-several pistons, of four pairs of inlet and outlet valves, all mounted in acoinmon axial line, each pair secured to a.-

cating with a common outlet-pipe, and the inlet-valves of the two intermediate pairs co nmunicating with a common inlet-pipe.

11. The check-valve w. in combination with I a double line of pipes, one'ot' said pipes leadin g to the side of the piston against which the pressure in rolling is exerted, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I, the said IGNATIUS HAHN, have hereunto set my hand.

IGNATIUS HAHN.

. Witnesses:

'. F. W. BITTER, on,

T. B.- KERR. 

